A couple of months ago I posted about the ISO-Clean 1.0 stove, which is a pretty awesome stove simply due to the fact that it runs off of Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol. Pretty much all of the other alcohol stoves are designed to run off of fuels such as denatured, grain or methyl alcohol, but not Isopropyl alcohol. (When using these stoves, the water content of Isopropyl alcohol tends to hinder fuel efficiency, as well as create lots of soot.) However, Jon from Flat Cat Gear has created these “ISO-Clean” stoves to work with Isopropyl alcohol (ironically though, they are not designed to work with the other fuel sources).

So, why Isopropyl Alcohol?

1. It is typically less expensive than the other fuel sources.
2. It is typically easier to find than the other fuel sources.
3. It is less toxic than (most) of the other fuel sources.

In order for the Isopropyl alcohol to burn both, efficiently as well as soot-free, air flow must be pretty exact and controlled. This can be controlled (in-part) by the distance between the bottom of the cook pot and the stove itself. With this in mind, Jon successfully designed the ISO-Clean 1.0 stove to work with his other Flat Cat Gear cooking systems (the Snow Leopard and the Bobcat systems) which of course, will efficiently burn Isopropyl alcohol, and soot-free at that!

However, not everyone may have one of his cooking systems already, so he also created a few different versions to work with systems that others already have. These alternate versions are the same ISO-Clean 1.0 stove, but with an integrated pot stand on top. This pot stand easily and correctly takes all the guess-work out of trying to get the distance between the cook pot and the stove right. (Not to mention that it allows for one less piece of the entire system to keep up with.)

Jon has created 2 different versions of the ISO-Clean stoves with the integrated pot stand, the ISO-Clean 2.1 stove (which is the stove that I am giving away now) and the ISO-Clean USGI stove, which works with the USGI Canteen Cup and the Crusader Cup.

So, as I said, this is a giveaway… so, let me get on with it!

To enter to win this stove is easy. Simply post a comment below, here on this pagetelling me why you would like to win this alcohol stove. And that’s it. The contest is open to everyone regardless of where they reside. Then, on Monday, November 19th once I come home from work, I will transfer all the names onto a spreadsheet and then enter the number of entries into a random generator. The name on the spreadsheet that matches the number that comes up will be the winner. I will then post the winner here on my blog and will allow the winner up to 72 hours to respond back to me with their shipping information. If the winner does not contact me in the 72 hour window, I will then draw another name, and so on.

(To make it easier for me, I will only collect the names of those that post here on this particular entry on my blog. Comments made on my FaceBook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, or any other page will not be entered into this drawing, but are much appreciated.)

So, thanks everyone for stopping by, and good luck to all those that enter.

~Stick~

Disclaimer: Jon from Flat Cat Gear provided me with both of these ISO-Clean 2.1 stoves for the purpose of this giveaway.

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About Stick

My blog is essentially a record of my hiking career. Through it, I, and others, can see how I have evolved from a heavy weight backpacker, to a smarter, more efficient, lightweight backpacker. Through the use of video, still photos, and of course writing, one can see my progression, as well as check out some of the places I hike, and not to mention some cool, lightweight gear options.
For me, my blog is a journal, but for others, I hope that it is an interactive learning tool to aid them in their own progression towards lightweight backpacking.

I would like to win this stove just to give it a try. Over the years I have transition from a MSR Dragonfly that screams like a jet to a Trangia to a Kelly Kettle to Esbit to the Caldera stove. Depending on the trip I now osculate between the Trangia and Caldera. Burning iso intriques me.

Well Stick I never win anything so I always try.. But I think using ISO is an awesome way for the everyday man to be able to use this stove. We all have Rubing alchol somewhere at the house. Great videos man I keep learning a lot from you . Thanks

I really think that the built in pot stand along with the fact that it uses ISO really sets this stove apart. I love it since it can now be used with any cook pot with no tinkering. Just light the stove, set the pot on top and wait!

Thanks for the chance to win! I would love to use this with my three children. I just ran our Trangia dry and it cracked. The kids are bummed. They like outdoor dinners(ramen, mac and cheese). We also like to have a hot chocolate on a nice night.

I’d love to have this because you can’t see alcohol burning! It’s way cool… ok, actually hot!
Weight isn’t a problem, but space certainly is! I ride a motorcycle that’s anything but a touring bike, but it’s paid for!
Mary aka Krashdragon

I want this stove because of “Why Isopropyl Alcohol?” reason #4: It contains more energy than methanol or ethanol. I’ve tried mixing half isopropyl and half ethyl alcohols to stretch my eight ounce fuel bottle as far as I can. This is a great solution for those who love the simplicity of alcohol stoves, but dislike their inefficiency.

Stick nice video. I would like to win this stove to add to my collection of stoves that I use to backpack with and also in teaching scouts how and when to use different stoves. Thanks for sharing your info and gear.
Charles

Why would I like this stove? That’s easy!! But not a one line answer! I just finished Laura and Guy Waterman’s book, “Backwoods Ethics” which I read to further educate myself in LNT and light weight hiking and camping. I have some denatured alcohol stoves, one I made myself through a DIY video. They work great but if I can be sold on the Isopropyl alcohol stove….what fool would NOT take that over the denatured, white gas or certainly, burning up natures own self! If I don’t win it, I’ll buy it…..I just want to try it……that’s part of what makes this life so much fun…changes!!!

It’s a real bummer to be leaving a trail town, after a fruitless search for Heet or denatured, with not enough fuel. Sure I can always start a fire, but it’s so much easier, cleaner and sometimes safer to have a stove and fuel. Thats why I’d love to win this stove: It should be easier to find isopropyl! And I wanna weigh it and run some boil time comparissons…

Old school hiker that is always interested in trying new gear. I still have the original commercial backpacking alcohol stove. It was a brass-like material and weighs a ton by today’s standards, but back then 50 lb packs were normal. I have made several cat can alcohol stoves but would prefer rubbing alcohol to denatured.

I am a big fan of Flat Cat’s Bobcat systems and would love to try out and own the Iso-Clean 2.1. It sound like a really neat concept and since I have had trouble finding HEET or denatured alcohol on some longer journeys it would be a worth it’s extra weight! I also like how it is a stand alone stove and that would be a bit different than the “system” approach of my Bobcat!

I flew with friends to Calgary to hike in the Canadian Rockies this past summer. Thinking we might perhaps burn Everclear in our stoves, primarily because it’s less toxic if spilled or accidentally ingested (as happened when one of my friends took a swig from my fuel bottle, mistaking the contents for water), we visited a Canadian liquor store. Wow, is that expensive stuff (esp. in Canada)! I would like to give Isopropyl a try, but it won’t burn in my current alcohol stove.

I’d like to compare it to the Swiss Army Ranger Stove, and old school “fuel-less” number I’ve just started trying out. That one burns whatever sticks and leaves and burnables you can turn up. Here’s some info on it…http://scottishcanoeing.blogspot.com/2008/12/swiss-army-ranger-volcano-stove.html. I don’t know why exactly I just got tired of white gas whisperlites and the Isopropyl gas in steel canister burning stoves, but the stove is the piece in my bag that I’m consistently unsatisfied by. I’ve got everything else worked out to the way I like it. Your stove is interesting, and it may be the missing piece. Thanks, -Greg

Sorry to hear about the hurricane, glad that you made it through it though! And yes, you are right, these types of stoves are great for power outages. I have used a few of my stoves in the same situation!

I also am interested in this stove as I am trying to move from my old (30+ years!) Svea 123 to a much lighter weight system. I also have lurked about your blog gathering UL (or almost UL) info. I got here from your buddy Brian Green’s blog and I enjoy the banter between the two of you and also enjoy your views on equipment. Great thing for you to do!

I have never used a Svea 123 but I have read a lot about them. They seemed to be quite an icon for stoves and backpacking on some of the forums… Anyway, thanks for making your way over to my blog and entering the contest. Good luck!

1. free!
2. fuel serves 2 purposes because i hurt myself a lot.
3. i have punched a crap load of holes in a crap load of tin cans and still cannot figure out the right set to burn without soot.
4. i want to impress my friends
5. to boil water in a drug store parking lot just after buying a bottle i isopropyl alcohol.
6. i’m not a prepper but i have a prepper mentality.
7. i like to win.
8. i made a baking set and want to try it out.

I would love to win this stove because I just simply like gear. As a lightweight backpacker we have to be careful about the gear we use, and this stove looks like it fits the bill. Thanks for the offer!

My wife and I will be doing the PCT in 2013 and this stove is hands down better than my JetBoil because fuel will be easy to find, it is lightweight, and bombproof with no moving parts. All important qualities for a 2600 hike. I also made DIY Cat Can stove but this stove looks much more efficient and nice looking to boot.

I would love to win this so I can share this information with others. I’m the Chair of an Emergency Preparedness Committee here in Los Angeles. I’m trying to encourage people to be prepared, especially in ways they haven’t thought of, in case we have a major earthquake and people don’t have gas or electricity. People just collecting pamphlets of info or what to buy isn’t good enough, I want people to see alcohol stoves and how they work and other items they haven’t even thought of that they might need to McGuyver in an emergency situation. I’m coordinating a preparedness fair and I’m focusing on DIY type preparedness examples. This is great and I plan to encourage people to check your site out. I’m very impressed.

That sounds awesome, and I agree, this would be a great item to have for emergency situations. And I agree, I think that showing others these types of things rather than just reading about them would do well for lots of people… Anyway, thanks for entering the contest and good luck!

Cheryl, I am just starting BETA testing on an Emergency Kitchen. The kit uses either the ISO-Clean stove (Isopropyl) or the Lynx Stove (Denatured alcohol). Cotact me through our site if you would like more information. BTW, I live close by in Calabasas. Best regards – Jon

Hey Stick, like you, a DIY-head, I’ve built a bunch of alky stoves and burned a boatload of HEET, but this clever design intrigues me. I read your review of it. I’d throw it in my day pack for coffee/tea/lunch breaks and not think so much about HEET’s undesirable elements. (I’d also probably end up trying to copy it in bigger and smaller versions). The fuel dual use aspect is cool too, but you’d have to watch out and not waste your cooking supply.

Once you go rubbing alcohol you never go back! I want to try to win the best. Not only can I clean wounds, but would also be able to cook food and heat the H2O for the instant coffee/hot chocolate and maybe cook a marshmallow or two. And, of course that would be a good fair weather stove for a fair weather mid-altitude-flatlander such as myself.

I want to win because where I live (upstate SC) it’s always fair weather. I’ve made a pile of stoves but all to be used with Heet. The ability to use a different fuel would add some diversity to my fuel line up. Thanks Stick and keep up the good work. I’ve been following you for a while and always look toward to your write ups and videos.

I’d like to win this stove, well, because winning is fun! And I’d like to start experimenting more with different cook kit set ups. This could be my first to move away from canister or white gas stoves.

First time I am commenting on your blog but I’ve been following you for a while and heard about your blog through Brian’s backpacking blog and Philip Werner’s blog. I really like alcohol stoves as I have built several myself. I am still working on perfecting my design though, as I have trouble getting boil times down low enough to make alcohol stoves practical. Right now I am using a lot more fuel than what I think should be used. I think iso alcohol is a very good source of fuel as it is very cheap. I’d be interested in trying this stove out to see how effective it really is with my whole cooking system!

Thanks for keeping up with my blog, and that is awesome to hear that you have lumped my blog in with Brian and Philips blogs…I also follow their blogs and they are great sites indeed! Anyway, how much fuel are you using now to boil say 2 cups of water?

As you can see in the video, the stove does exactly as intended. I will admit, I have not used this stove long term, but I see no reason to have any concerns that it won’t continue to perform as expected. I think that if you win you will lose any skepticism that you may have…

I’d love to win this stove! I’ve got a Caldera Cone, but I’d love to try it this new system. The fact that the fuel is less toxic is what intrigues me the most. I always feel a little nervous about storing my fuel bottle in my pot, even though it’s highly unlikely that any would leak. I think using rubbing alcohol would just give me a little more piece of mind.

I also have a Caldera Cone and will admit, it is an awesome system! If carrying alcohol though, I always store my fuel outside my pack in a Ziploc. Don’t want that leaking all inside my pack! But I think that you are right, rubbing alcohol wouldn’t be as much of a concern.

I would like to win this stove mainly out of curiosity. I always heard isopropyl alcohol wasn’t an acceptable fuel, pretty interested in trying it out. Also, Flat Cat Gear seems like a great company and I would love to own one of their products. I have been hearing a lot of great things about them on the web lately. Thanks for this opportunity Stick.

I currently use a SuperCat stove which I made, but think this might have something to it.. honestly I have not tried isopropyl alcohol in my stove, but hey the chance to get a free stove specifically tuned for this fuel, could be fun with field testing..

Hi Stick! Love your blog. 🙂 I would love to win the stove because I’m new to lightpacking and I’m still trying to figure out if alcohol stoves will work well in the Rocky Mtns. I tried an alcohol stove on my last trip, and it didn’t go too well. So back to the Jetboil. If this stove can work at high elevations and during winter conditions, I promise to report back. Happy Monday. 🙂

Hey Stick,
I just posted a comment here on your page but I’m not sure if it actually submitted. So just to be on the safe side I’m reposting. I would love to have this stove! Having a totally different fuel burning stove in my line up would be awesome. I’ve been building and testing my own stoves for several months now but something like this is still beyond what I can make. Would be great to have a dependable and well made lightweight stove in my backpacking arsenal. Thanks for the videos amigo!!!!

Hey Stick!
Always excited to see your videos…..especially when I see “Giveaway”!!! I’m a stove enthusiast and have been building stoves for several months but have never had the opportunity to use an Iso stove. I would love to try this guy out, have a potentially less toxic burn, and have one of the sweet stoves in my line-up for trips. Thanks again for all the work you put into these videos and keep’em coming!!! Thanks from Texas!

I would like to win this stove is because I’m a scout leader and I’ve been showing these kids how to utalize different types of stove and I did not have one of these to show them. After I show them I will raffle it out to the troop.

Stick, you said it best in your blog post with the 3 reasons to use rubbing alcohol, but I can add one more: dual purpose for fuel. Not only can I burn it, I can also sanitize my hands and also disinfect cuts and scrapes with it.

That said, of course I’d want to have one of these stoves as a great alternative in my stove choices. 🙂

I would love to win this stove to add a great disaster prep/ survival option to my kit. You can find heet or slx at a lot of places, but unless you live next to a hiker, backpacker, prepper or bushcrafter you won’t find it if you have to scrounge. Nearly everyone has some alcohol at home though.

I am getting back into hiking / camping for the benefit of both myself and my kids, but since I no longer have any gear, I’m having to start over on reacquiring everything. Any help towards that end is immensely appreciated. This sounds more economical as well as practical, and exactly what I need.
Thanks
G

I have a few of the penny stoves (both DIY and commercial), and a couple of cat stoves, but for some reason, I could never get the cat stove to work as I thought it should…strange, cause it’s so easy to make…

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and entering! Good luck in the contest.

Hey Stick!
Little by little trading in my heavier equipment for lighter! It would be a step in the right direction for sure.
Loving your posts, loving the backpacking tips! Thanks for all you do!!
Kristal

I love to watch Jon’s videos and think that he deserves a lot of credit for thinking outside the box on this one. So many have said that Iso. would not burn clean but, he proved it will. Thank you Stick for sponsoring this give-away and I would love to have this stove in my pack.

I agree with you about Jon’s stoves and systems. He has come up with some nice designs and taken the stove world into new areas, and as you said, this stove is only one example! Eventually I am going to have to try out one of his Epicurean stoves…it just seems like the perfect stove for any sort of backcountry baking, as he demonstrates in his videos.

This looks like a great way to cut the pounds on my November attempt to take the Colorado Trail (mostly) from Denver to Gunnison, where I just graduated from Western State. Even with light skis and everything as light as I can go, I could seriously use something lighter than my Jetboil. Unfortunately, being a newly graduated student, funds are low and getting superlight gear is rarely inexpensive. Somebody said something once to this effect that rings true: You can have gear that is either strong, heavy, and cheap or strong, light, and expensive. It couldn’t get any better than free!

I’d love to win this stove because I’ve never tried using alcohol stoves before…it’s a very light and intriguing way of cooking in the wilderness. Being an ultralight guy, this stove would lighten up my pack as well.

I would love to give this stove a try, so winning it would be great! The cheap price and abundant availability of the fuel makes it seem like an easy way to go. Additionally, I like the idea of a cleaner fuel, where HEET tends to give off some nasty fumes that burns my eyes if I am too close to the stove. Moreover, the unique design of stove itself intrigues me!

Well said Luke! I’ll tell you though, I have never really had any issues with burning the yellow bottle HEET, but the SLX is a different story… I will admit though, I have been using SLX more the last couple of months (if I haven’t been using Esbit) because it does burn hotter…

I’d love to win this stove because my current stove setup is just too heavy and complicated to use on my upcoming JMT hike next year. I’m definitely sure the base weight of my pack would lessen with that stove inside it.

I love this stove! It has exactly what i want in a stove, great size, price with fuel, a top to put pans on.I wouldnt need a pocket rocket so this is awsome. I cant make my own because i would probably hurt myself lol. I love your videos they are super great!

I should win this stove because, I want to transition into ultralight backpacking, and this would solve the deliemma I have as to what stove to get. It would be a great piece of kit to add to my gear and really help me along on my way to transitioning into ultralight.

I would love to win this alcohol stove so that it can join me on my ultralight travels over the next year. I plan to spend my time bikepacking through the UK hitting the best climbing and wild swimming spots, barefoot hiking 150miles of coast to coast trail and perhaps some European adventures. It would be a great addition to my outfit as here in the UK we don’t have quite such an extensive availability of bespoke kit. I would love to field test and then blog about this product!

I’m interested in this stove as I am trying to move from classical bushcraft style camping to a more UL lifestyle – bridging both worlds while keeping weight down considerably. I’ve never tried a stove like this, as I usually just made a fire, but this would keep my impact much lower in the woods. Even if I don’t win, this is mighty nice of you! I’ve lurked on your blog for some time gathering UL info. 🙂

I have not really practiced any bushcraft, but I feel like it would be a great supplement to the “UL” backpacking style, and that these 2 methods could go pretty much hand-in-hand… I dunno, maybe I’m wrong. I do need to get more of my skills together though…

Anyway, thanks for lurking around my blog and glad that it has been helpful!

Okay I will admit it… I am absolutely geeked out about stoves. I’m not sure if it’s the mixture of chemistry and physics but there are SO many different variables that it’s exciting to think of trying to get one set up that is perfect for me. I’m hoping to walk away from the isobutane stoves soon and am very interested in this idea of using isopropyl alcohol. We are hoping to do an AT thru-hike this year and fuel availability is a concern. Plus the idea of carrying an alcohol I can use for sanitation is equally appealing.

I agree…there is a certain fascination with stoves and cook kits in general. I have only been backpacking a short time, but I have used alky stoves for almost all of that time. I have some canister stoves, but they don’t get used much…and when they do it’s because I loaned them out… 🙂

Great point, there is only one use for HEET, and that is the stove. Not sure if you have tried it though (or have access to it) but 190 proof Everclear also works well in those stoves, and of course has other uses (drinking and an antiseptic), although, the downfall here is availability and price…

Hey Stick!
I need this stove! For 15 years in the Marine Corps I’ve been humping MREs across the country on bicycle tours and up southern California’s highest peaks. This stove will be a great addition to my ever-lightening pack load thanks to your extensive reviews. I nervously await the results!

I can honestly say that I have not lugged a single MRE around in my pack…and I am glad because I do have some and they are heavy, and bulky! I can definitely see how dumping these from a pack would both lighten it up as well as free up some of real-estate!

I WOULD LIKE THE STOVE BECAUSE WITH MONEY TIGHT AND I CAN NOT AFFORED ANOTHER STOVE TO TRY. IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO USE THIS FUEL BECAUSE IT CAN PICKED UP ALMOST ANYWHERE .IN TENNESSEE THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE QUICK AND THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR STORMS.

I want to win this stove because I’m intrigued by the use of isopropyl alcohol. I also would like to add a stove to my slowly growing gear closet in an attempt to acquire as many cook systems as Stick! 🙂